Nepali ex-rapper to form government after landslide win

Nepali ex-rapper to form government after landslide win

A new political party led by a former Nepali rapper is set to secure a landslide victory in the country’s first parliamentary election since the Gen Z protests forced out the old leadership. The Rastriya Swatantra (RSP) party, formed just four years ago, is leading in 117 out of 165 directly elected seats and eight more, signaling a major shift in Nepal’s political landscape. The party’s prime ministerial candidate, Balendra Shah, emerged as a key figure during the 2025 uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli. This victory is being celebrated as a historic moment and a significant change in voter sentiment, overshadowing traditional powers like the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).